At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and grow a dynamic engineering team while staying hands-on with coding.
- Company: Exciting Series A startup revolutionising private capital with AI technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, meaningful equity, private healthcare, and remote work options.
- Other info: High ownership role with excellent career growth opportunities in a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced environment and make a real impact in AI development.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in scaling engineering teams and strong coding skills.
The predicted salary is between 130000 - 160000 £ per year.
We're working with a series A startup building an AI operating system for private capital. They build AI agents that automate the grind of due diligence, research and portfolio monitoring, with every insight traced back to its source. The platform is already in production with multi-billion-dollar PE funds across the UK, Europe and the US. ARR has grown 15x in the last year, and they're scaling hard into the next phase. Backed by senior operators from top PE funds and investment banks, alongside venture investors.
The role is a leadership hire to build and grow the engineering team as it roughly quadruples, from around seven or eight today to 25 over the next 12 months. You'd report to the CTO and own how the team grows, ships and holds its quality bar through that. It's a leadership role, but not one where you step back from the code. They want someone who can hire, develop and direct strong engineers while staying close enough to the work, code review, architecture, unblocking the team, to earn their respect. The wrong fit here is a pure people-manager who hasn't been near a codebase in years. The right fit is someone who has led a team through a scaling phase and still cares about how things get built.
Day to day you'd stand up the hiring loops, onboarding and delivery rhythm a bigger team needs, set objectives and own performance and retention, and partner with the founders on what the team builds and why. High ownership, high intensity, fast.
The stack is Python and FastAPI on the backend, React and TypeScript on the frontend, Postgres, ElasticSearch and vector databases for data, and LLMs, agents and RAG across the AI layer.
What they're looking for:
- Has built and managed an engineering team through a high-growth scaling phase, not just inherited a stable one
- Still close to the code: recently hands-on, credible in code review and architecture discussions
- Has hired well at pace and can tell a strong engineer from a strong interviewer
- Strong product sense and a genuine interest in the customer
- Comfortable in an early, high-intensity, high-ownership environment, in the office four days a week
- Right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship at this stage)
Benefits:
- Salary: £130k–£160k, depending on experience
- Meaningful early-stage equity, negotiable for the right hire
- Private healthcare via Bupa
- One month a year fully remote, plus a home-office budget
The process:
- Intro call with Ethiq (30 mins)
- Intro call with the CTO (45 mins): your background, what you have built and led, and what you are looking for next
- Leadership and team-building (60 mins, with the CTO): how you hire, grow and retain engineers and set direction, with real examples from teams you have scaled
- Technical and architecture (60 mins, with the engineering team): a working session on system design and how you would scale the architecture
- Meet both founders in person at the London office
They move quickly and value your time. First-stage calls are usually booked within a few days.
Software Engineering Manager in London employer: Ethiq
Join a dynamic Series A startup at the forefront of AI innovation, where you'll lead a rapidly growing engineering team in a high-intensity environment. With a strong focus on employee development and meaningful equity opportunities, this role offers a unique chance to shape the future of private capital technology while working closely with experienced founders and top-tier investors. Enjoy a collaborative work culture that values hands-on leadership and fosters growth, all within a vibrant London setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineering Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those who have experience with startups or AI. A personal introduction can make all the difference when you're trying to land that Software Engineering Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your technical skills and leadership experiences. Be ready to discuss how you've scaled teams and tackled challenges in previous roles. We want to see your passion for coding and team building shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your hands-on experience! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've been involved in code reviews and architecture discussions. This will help you stand out as someone who’s not just a people manager but also deeply engaged with the technical side.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineering Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Coding:Make sure to highlight your hands-on experience with coding in your application. We want to see that you’re not just a people manager but someone who’s still close to the code and can engage in technical discussions.
Demonstrate Your Leadership Skills:Share specific examples of how you've built and managed engineering teams through high-growth phases. We’re looking for someone who can show us they’ve successfully scaled teams and retained talent while maintaining quality.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your application to reflect the skills and experiences that align with our needs, especially around Python, FastAPI, React, and TypeScript. Show us why you’re the perfect fit for this role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ethiq
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you're well-versed in Python, FastAPI, React, and TypeScript. Brush up on your knowledge of Postgres, ElasticSearch, and vector databases. Being able to discuss these technologies confidently will show that you’re not just a people manager but also someone who understands the technical side of things.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully scaled an engineering team in the past. Highlight your approach to hiring, developing talent, and maintaining quality during rapid growth. This will demonstrate that you can handle the high-intensity environment they’re looking for.
✨Engage with the Founders
During your meetings with the founders, be ready to discuss not just what you’ve done, but why you did it. Show genuine interest in their vision and how you can contribute to building the product. This will help you connect on a deeper level and show that you’re aligned with their goals.
✨Prepare for Technical Discussions
Expect a working session on system design and architecture. Brush up on your design principles and be ready to think on your feet. Practising common architectural challenges and solutions will help you feel more confident and prepared for this part of the interview.
